TWI418467B - Ink level detection by electronic means - Google Patents

Description

Ink level detection technology by electronic components

The present invention relates to ink level detection techniques by electronic components.

Background of the invention

Prior art attempts have been made to allow customers to view the amount of ink in the ink cartridge of an inkjet printer. Other attempts have been made to manufacture and implement a reliable electrical ink supply detection mechanism, such as via an electronic screen or an electrical signal transmitted to its printer to inform the customer when the ink cartridge has almost no ink.

Prior art attempts have attempted to utilize a beam of light reflected or refracted by a crucible to produce a component that is viewable and electrically detectable by the customer. Still, a stack of structures has been positioned in an ink cartridge for ink level detection.

An optical principle called total internal reflection (TIR) is associated with this discussion of beams and beams. The TIR occurs when an internal light ray strikes an internal segment of the 稜鏡 at an angle normal to the beam and the internal segment at an angle greater than a certain critical angle. If the beam touches the 稜鏡 segment at or above a certain critical angle, and if the refractive index is lower on the outer side than the inner side, such as when the 稜鏡 is surrounded by air, light at or above the critical angle cannot be worn. Come over to the outside of the raft. In this example, all of the light is reflected in the crucible. If the materials from which niobium is usually produced (such as glass or polymeric materials) are known, the critical angle for such defects is typically between 40 and 50 degrees.

The prior art attempts to use an ink cartridge to generate light and enthalpy to produce a readable optical signal associated with the level of ink in the ink cartridge, which is preferred Signals are not clear from electrical inspection or from the perspective of the human eye. The resulting on/off signal is generally not strong.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, an ink cartridge configured to accommodate an ink is specifically provided, the ink cartridge comprising: a substantially hollow body portion including an inner space and a substantially continuous inner wall; One of the inner spaces of the body is disposed at a predetermined distance from the continuous inner wall such that a wall and a continuous inner wall of the ink cartridge define an ink pocket, the optical file including at least a reflective portion formed at an angle configured to reflect light originating from a light source and passing through the optical pupil at a predetermined height of the optical pupil relative to a bottom of the hollow body Wherein if the ink in the ink pocket appears below one of at least a portion of the at least one reflective portion, the ink does not block light reflected by at least a portion of the at least one reflective portion at the predetermined height The ink bag is passed down, whereby the reflected light can be detected externally by the electronic component.

Simple illustration

The features and advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will be understood by reference to the detailed description and the accompanying drawings. For the sake of brevity, numbers or feature configurations having the aforementioned functions may be described in conjunction with or without the other figures in which they appear.

1 is a half schematic view showing an embodiment of an ink cartridge; FIG. 2A is a half schematic view showing an embodiment of an optical pickup; and FIG. 2B is a half schematic view showing another embodiment of an optical pickup; The figure depicts a half of an embodiment of an ink cartridge having ink therein Intent; FIG. 4 depicts a semi-schematic cutaway view of a portion of an embodiment of a printer; FIG. 5A depicts a semi-schematic side view of an embodiment of the printer; FIG. 5B depicts another implementation of a stack a semi-schematic side view of the example; FIG. 5C depicts a semi-schematic front view of FIG. 5B; and FIG. 6 semi-schematically depicts a user-facing display A, B from various aspects according to an embodiment. , C and D; Figures 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E depict half schematic views of five different embodiments of an ink jet wall; Figure 8 depicts another implementation of an ink cartridge comprising two turns A semi-schematic diagram of an example; FIG. 9 depicts a semi-schematic perspective view of an embodiment of a "U" shape; and FIG. 10 depicts a semi-schematic representation of the "U" shape of FIG. 9 of an embodiment of the ink cartridge. A perspective view; Figure 11 depicts a semi-schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an "L" shape.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiment

The ink cartridge embodiment disclosed herein allows a customer to view the amount of ink retained in a particular ink cartridge by glance of its printer or an equal electronic component. This effect is achieved by positioning a light emitting diode (LED) 3 or other similar light source in, on or near the ink cartridge such that the light beam from the light source can reach a designated location inside the ink cartridge. In a non-limiting example, the light source is placed just outside a bottom portion of the ink cartridge. Ink transcript The body may advantageously comprise at least one optical raft through which an optical signal is accurately transmitted to a viewing window that is open to the user's eyes and/or to an electrical detector configured to be logged optical signals. Different optical signals can be generated based on the ink level in the ink cartridge.

Fig. 1 shows that one ink cartridge 1 is formed by a substantially hollow body portion 23, and substantially the hollow body portion 23 has an LED 3 positioned below the lower right corner. It is understood that the LED 3 is generally positioned such that light from the LED 3 travels up through 匣1 and into an inner space 21 that is operatively positioned in the substantially hollow body 23 of the ink cartridge 1 in. In some non-limiting embodiments, the crucible 2 is attached to the bottom side 10 of the inner space 21 of the ink cartridge. The embodiment of 稜鏡 2 summarizes the length and width of the inner space 21 that is smaller than the ink cartridge 1 . This allows the ink to freely flow back and forth around the crucible 2 in the ink cartridge inner space 21, including the ink pocket 6, which is a space formed between the crucible 2 and the adjacent inner wall 5 of the crucible 1. .

Light is reflected off of the optical 稜鏡 2 by a predetermined angle of reflection formed on the 反射 2 at a particular reflective location 4. The angle of reflection is typically formed by cutting the enamel material in a beveled shape on its surface. In one embodiment, the predetermined angle of reflection is 45°, while in another embodiment, at least in part, depending on the material of the crucible 2, the predetermined angle of reflection is between approximately 40° and 50°.

The beam reflected from 稜鏡2 is directed out of 匣1 approximately perpendicular to the original direction of the beam. In some cases, the inner wall 5 of the crucible 1 is substantially vertical (i.e., at least a portion of the inner wall 5 is vertical) and parallel to the original beam, and thus, the reflected beam is horizontal relative to the vertical inner wall 5 of the crucible 1. However, depending on the angle of incidence with the reflection site 4, it is possible to make the light in a direction other than a horizontal Move out of the 匣1 outside. It is also possible to cause light to bounce around 稜鏡 2 and the ink cartridge 1 before leaving the crucible 1 via the appropriate region. The light beam guided from the reflective portion 4 out of the crucible 1 can then be viewed by a user's eye 20 through a window 7 in the printer 8 (see, for example, Figure 7A) or can be detected by a detector 16, window 7 Adjacent to the inner wall 5 of the crucible 1.

2A and 2B show an embodiment in which there are several reflection sites 4 on each of the crucibles 2, and the respective reflection sites 4 are formed at substantially the same angle (e.g., 45°) with respect to the crucible 2. Fig. 2A shows an embodiment having a reflecting portion 4 formed by a serrated slit on the side of the ink pocket 6 of the crucible 2. Figure 2B shows another embodiment of a reflective portion 4 formed by a series of 45[deg.] angular steps on the wall of the crucible 2 opposite the ink pocket 6.

Figure 3 shows an embodiment in which an optical pickup 2 is positioned inside a portion of the ink cartridge 1 which is partially filled with ink. This embodiment of the crucible 2 includes three approximately 45° reflection sites cut out on the side of the crucible 2 opposite the ink pocket 6. The LED 3 is positioned below the ink cartridge 1 and directly below the crucible 2 to illuminate the LED 3 light and touch the three reflective sites 4. The three 45° slit reflection sites 4 reflect three separate beams at an angle of about 90° for the original upward beam direction from the LED 3. The three beams from the three reflection sites 4 pass horizontally or nearly horizontally across the 稜鏡2 to the side of the ink pocket 6 of 稜鏡2. As shown in Fig. 3, the ink in the ink cartridge 1 is located at a level that reaches the lowest of the three reflection sites 4 and its corresponding beam. Therefore, the lowest of the three beams is blocked by the ink in the ink bag 6, and therefore cannot be viewed through the viewing window 7 of the printer 8 (shown in Figure 4). The other two beams that are not blocked by the ink in the ink bag 6 pass through the ink bag 6 and are illuminated. The illuminating through the inner wall 5 of the ink cartridge 1 and through the viewing window 7 of the printer 8 allows the viewer's eye 20 and/or detector 16 to be perceived.

It is believed that according to the principle of Total Internal Reflection (TIR), light travels from LED 3 through 稜鏡2 and out of 匣1, and believes that light rays are in fact impossible or difficult to pass through the ink. According to the TIR principle, the interface between the ink and the crucible 2 (at a predetermined angle) and the interface between the air and the crucible 2 reflect/refract light differently. Moreover, if the ink bag 6 disposed between a vertical sill wall 17 and the nearest sill wall 5 contains ink at a position below a reflection portion 4, the light system moves from the reflection portion 4 to The outer wall 5 and the viewing window 7 pass through the wall 2 . When the light beam from the crucible 2 interfaces with the air exiting the crucible 2 into the ink pocket 6, it travels substantially unrefractively through the air and at an angle perpendicular to the original beam (for example, if the reflection portion 4 is about 45°) to touch the inner wall 5 of the ink cartridge 1, and thus passes through the viewing window 7.

If the ink pocket 6 between the crucible 2 and the ink cartridge wall 5 is filled with ink to a position above one of the reflection portions 4 in the crucible 2, the light reflected from the reflection portion 4 is substantially blocked by the ink. . This prevents light from moving across the ink bladder 6 to the ink sac wall 5. Thus, when sufficient ink is present to fill the ink pocket 6 to the level of a given reflective site 4, light from a given reflective site 4 will never reach the viewing window 7. For example, when the ink container 1 is filled with the pigment-based ink to the level shown in Fig. 3, the light from the two top reflecting portions 4 on the crucible 2 will shine through the viewing window 7, from the lowest reflecting portion 4. Light will be lost in the ink. However, please understand that when the ink appearing in 匣1 is a dye-based ink, it may cause a certain amount of light to arrive even from the reflective portion 4 disposed at the ink level or below the ink level. Window 7.

It is understood that if the level of ink in the ink bag 6 is higher than a portion of the reflective portion 4 rather than the integral reflective portion 4, an optical signal may be reflected from that portion of the reflective portion 4 above the ink level. This optical signal is weaker than the optical signal produced from a portion of the reflection that is completely above one of the ink levels.

Therefore, by the principle of TIR for controlling how light is reflected by the reflective portion 4 in the crucible 2, and also by the fact that the light transmitted from the crucible 2 is substantially completely blocked by the ink, it may have The ink 匣 1 embodiment disclosed in the present invention effectively generates an optical signal to detect the phenomenon of ink level. As described above, when the ink appears in the ink cartridge 1 at a position that blocks a given reflection portion 4, the light can be prevented from being sent out of the crucible 2. However, when the ink does not appear in the ink cartridge 1 at a level that at least partially blocks the reflective portion, at least a portion of the light is emitted out of the cartridge 2 and produces a detectable and/or visible signal.

More specifically, the beam is reflected from the respective reflection sites 4 to the interface between the vertical wall 17 and the ink pocket 6. When a region of the vertical wall 17 directly opposite a reflecting portion 4 is blocked by ink present in the ink bag 6, for example, the ink bag is relatively filled with ink, the light beam from the reflecting portion 4 cannot be The ink is passed through the ink bag 6 from the vertical wall 17 and comes out of the ink cartridge 1. Conversely, when the interface is not covered or blocked by the ink present in the ink bag 6, for example, the ink bag 6 is relatively empty, the light beam from the reflecting portion 4 can be broadcasted from the cymbal 2 through the ink sac. The bag 6 comes out of the ink cartridge 1.

When using ink 匣1, the ink level is lowered in the ink 匣1, so the exposure Additional reflective sites 4 and those regions of the vertical walls 17 that are directly opposite the reflective sites 4 are provided. When the ink level in the ink pocket 6 becomes further depleted and the additional reflective portion 4 becomes exposed above the ink level, the individual light strips (corresponding to the exposed reflective portion 4) continue to "turn on" and are The sequence is added and displayed on a visual display or signaled to an electrical detector 16 to provide a final countdown for when the ink supply in 匣1 is used up.

Referring now to Figure 4, a user inserts a filled ink cartridge 1 into a printer 8. If the ink cartridge 1 is properly loaded, a supply of light can be applied to the top of the unlit vertical light train 9 in the viewing window 7 of the printer 8 to indicate proper placement of the ink cartridge 1. According to the pattern shown in Fig. 4, one or more of the top lights of each of the turns 1 are illuminated, so that proper installation is indicated.

Each of the cymbals 1 has a vertical light string 9 corresponding to one of the users, and the number of lights illuminating in the series 9 depends on the amount of ink appearing in the individual 匣1. Additional lights will be visible as more ink is used. When a particular ink cartridge 1 is emptied, the supply light may flash to indicate that the user should replace the particular cartridge 1.

In Fig. 4, a specific portion of one of the six light trains 9 having a viewing window 7 and a horizontal column is shown, wherein each of the light trains 9 corresponds to one of six different ink cartridges 1. By. Still further, each light string 9 has four lights that can be illuminated and displayed to the user. Please understand that the number of lights in a series of columns corresponds to the number of reflections in the corresponding 匣. When fully illuminated, the individual lights together form a vertical straight or tandem 9 light. In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figure 4, the light in the top horizontal column indicates that the ink cartridge 1 was properly inserted when illuminated. Please understand that the next light in a series of columns 9 (from the top light down) becomes illuminated, and the corresponding ink supply in 匣1 is already empty until a level of reflection 4 is exposed, thereby allowing the user to watch. Light from the reflective portion 4. Thus, for a light string 9 in which two, three or four lights are illuminated, the ink in 匣1 becomes depleted and becomes somewhat closer to emptying to some extent or to another extent. The degree of emptying is estimated by the number of lights lit in the vertical series 9. In this embodiment, when the ink cartridge 1 is substantially emptied, all of the lights in each of the six vertical light trains 9 are illuminated. When the ink cartridge 1 is substantially filled, the top light for indicating the straight line for proper insertion is excluded, and no light is displayed.

Figure 4 depicts one of the different embodiments of a visual display that can be provided to a viewing window 7 of a user. It is understood that the thickness of the individual colored light trains 9 can be varied by changing the length or configuration of the reflective portions in the individual ink cartridges 1. However, please understand that in order to achieve the desired reflective properties, the angle at which the reflection site 4 is cut from the crucible 2 (for example, approximately 45°) should be maintained within an ideal range to achieve accurate migration to the viewing window 7 from the edge. A beam of mirror 2. For example, as long as the reflective portion 4 is cut at the correct angle, a thinner vertical light string 9 can be achieved by forming the reflective portion 4 to a substantially horizontally narrow length, and can be formed by forming a horizontally thick reflective portion 4. A thicker vertical light string 9 is achieved. In this particular embodiment, even if primarily designed for a viewer's eye 20, the information on the display can be registered by an electrical detector 16 (as shown in Figure 4).

An alternative visual display can also be achieved by changing the geometry of the 稜鏡2. Figures 5A and 5B show two examples of such variations. The embodiments shown in Figures 5A and 5B, respectively, but which differ from Figures 2A and 2B, provide a 45° reflection site 4 for the beam from LED 3 at the bottom of 稜鏡2. In the embodiment of Fig. 5A, the substantially right triangular pyramid shape is maintained (because the entire beveled side of the right triangular pyramid is at an angle of 45 with respect to the vertically directed beam from the LED 3). However, there is no cut portion in 稜鏡2 of Fig. 5A. This embodiment is capable of reflecting the light beam to the viewing window 7, as indicated by Figure 5A. It is understood that the intensity of the light in this embodiment is generally not bright enough to be easily viewed by the user. In another embodiment of the crucible 2 shown in Fig. 5B, there is a series of three serrated 45° slits 18 on the vertical wall 17 facing the crucible 2 of the ink pocket 6 (shown in Figure 5B). ). These slits 18 do not act as reflection sites 4, but as regions that actually reflect light back into the crucible 2. It is the uncut rectangular region 19 located directly above and below the slits 18 in the vertical jaw wall 17 that allows light to exit the cartridge 2 into the ink pocket 6. The light that is transmitted from these rectangular regions 19 is the light actually perceived by the detector 16 or the eye 20. The light transmitted from these areas 19 is transmitted from the reflection site 4 in other areas of the crucible 2.

Figure 5C shows a front view of Figure 2 of Figure 5B that will be seen by the viewer. The view of this user is actually a view of the wall 17 facing the ink bladder 6. The kerf region 18 does not reflect the light signal, while the rectangular region 19 above and below the kerf region 18 reflects the optical signal.

Figure 6 depicts an example of alternative visual displays A, B, C, and D that can be achieved based on the geometry of the crucible 2, and particularly on the shape of the reflective portion 4. For example, the displays A and D in Fig. 6 show that when the slit 18 is made in the crucible 2, the light is reflected in the crucible 2 and fabricated in the region 19 to cause light to be reflected out of the vertical crucible wall 17 The appearance of the light in the light string 9 at the time of the formation of 稜鏡2 is similar to the embodiment shown in Figs. 5B and 5C. Display D shows an embodiment in which 稜鏡 2 has three reflective locations 4. The display B in Fig. 6 shows a horizontal strip of light extending across a series of viewing windows 7, which is caused by the horizontal extension of the reflective portion 4 for reflecting light from the LED 3 out of the vertical wall 17 It becomes the complete side of the 稜鏡2 of the horizontal belt. The display C in Fig. 6 shows a gap in the light strip which can be formed by constituting an intermittent portion horizontally across the reflective portion 4. In one embodiment, the intermittent portion is generally cut at an angle that does not reflect the light at 90° toward the vertical wall 17 . In another embodiment, the reflective portion 4 includes one of the non-reflective materials at the intermittent portion that traverses the reflective portion 4 horizontally. The effect of these intermittent portions is to cause the viewer to see a series of discrete portions of light that are horizontally positioned relative to each other, rather than being located in a solid horizontal band. These embodiments are not intended to be limiting, but rather show some general techniques by which different types of visual light signals can be achieved.

Figures 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E show five slightly different embodiments of ink cartridges 1 and 2, all employing a notch 11 or projection 11' on the ink pocket side of the wall 17 The middle side, that is, the opposite side of the ink pockets 6 on the inner side wall 5 of the ink cartridge 1 or the inner side wall 5 of the ink cartridge 1. When the ink fills all or part of the recess 11 or blocks the projection 11', the recess 11 or the projection 11' functions as a light interruption.

Although the LEDs 3 shown in Figures 7A through 7E are positioned to direct the light beam to one of the reflective sites 4, it is understood that the LEDs 3 can be positioned to direct the light beams to the respective reflective sites 4 thereby generating multiple optical signals. (Some parts leave the crucible 1 via the wall 5 and the other parts leave the crucible 1 via the bottom 10).

These embodiments include an additional reflective portion 4' that directs light toward the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1. In the embodiment of Figures 7A, 7B and 7C, a beam of light from a reflective portion 4 in the crucible 2 is directed to the recess 11 via an additional reflective portion 4', the recess 11 being from the crucible wall 17 A section was cut out. In the embodiment of Figure 7D, the additional reflective portion 4' directs light down through the ink pocket 6. In the embodiment of Fig. 7E, the additional reflective portion 4' directs light down through the crucible 2.

In the case of Figs. 7A and 7B, the recess 11 extends all the way down the vertical wall 17 to the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1. These recesses 11 form a recess R in the crucible 2 which increases the volume of the ink bladder 6. In Fig. 7C, the notch 11 is cut out to partially extend downward along the vertical dam wall 17, thereby forming a recess R smaller than that shown in Figs. 7A and 7B. Please understand that this smaller recess R also slightly increases the volume of the ink bladder 6. In Fig. 7D, the projection 11' is constituted by positioning an additional reflecting portion 4' on the material 15 of a body member of the wall 5 projecting from the side of the ink cartridge 1 for forming the ink pocket 6. In Fig. 7E, a light beam directly from the light source 3 is guided to the recess 11 which is positioned along the bottom wall 24 opposite the vertical dam wall 17 at the bottom portion 10 of the reflective portion 4 and the cymbal 1. between. This recess 11 forms a recess R which increases the volume of the inner space 21. Please understand that when there is ink in this notch 11, the light is blocked even before it enters the crucible 2.

Figure 7A shows a horizontal light signal that can be reflected across the ink pocket 6 and that comes out of the ink cartridge 1 and a second reflective portion 4' from the wall 17 that reflects downward and comes to the ink cartridge. An embodiment of a vertical optical signal outside of the bottom 10. In the embodiment of Fig. 7A, since the ink bag 6 and the recess 11 are filled with ink, the optical signal is blocked from leaving the ink cartridge 1 at these specific points. However, it is understood that the two separate optical signals emitted from different portions of the ink cartridge 1 can be registered by the electrical detector 16, the human eye 20, or a combination of the two.

As described above, in the Figs. 7A and 7B, the notch 11 is cut out from the vertical dam wall 17 to extend to the bottom portion 10 of the ink cartridge 1. If there is any amount of ink in the ink bag 6, it may block the passage of light through the notch 11. Therefore, in Fig. 7A, no light signal is emitted from the ink cartridge 1 (except for those reflecting portions 4 above the ink level), and in Fig. 7B, the light signal will be emitted from all the reflection portions 4 of the received beam.匣1 outside. The notches 11 of Figures 7A and 7B are of different sizes, but achieve similar results.

A variant embodiment of Figures 7A and 7B can be achieved by placing the notch 11 on the opposite wall 24 of the crucible 2 for the vertical crucible wall 17, as shown in Figure 7E. As described above, if the light source 3 is directly positioned below the recess 11, since the ink is positioned to block the light from entering the crucible 2, an optical signal will be detected when no ink remains in the ink cartridge 1 or a small amount of ink remains. The embodiment of Fig. 7E, as in Fig. 7A, can also have a horizontal light signal that is reflected across the ink pocket 6 and that comes out of the ink cartridge 1 side 5, and a second light from the vertical jaw wall 17. The reflective portion 4' reflects downward and comes to a vertical optical signal outside the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1.

Referring now to Fig. 7D, the notch 11 is formed such that it protrudes from the inner wall 5 of the crucible 1. In this embodiment, the recess 11 includes a second reflective portion 4' that receives redirected light from the reflective portion 4. The second reflecting portion 4' guides the light all the way down through the ink pocket 6 (when the ink level allows light to pass) to the bottom 10 of the crucible 1. As with the embodiments of Figures 7A and 7B, the embodiment of Figure 7D is designed such that if there is any amount of ink in the ink bag 6, it may block light from passing through the 匣1, thereby preventing an optical signal from reaching an electrical detector 16 or A user's eye 20.

The notch 11 in Fig. 7C (unlike the one shown in Fig. 7B) does not extend all the way along the vertical sill wall 17, but is configured to extend downward along the wall 17 in a short path. As a result, light (reflected from both of the reflection portions 4, 4') is propagated through the notch 11 when no ink is present in the notch 11. After passing through the recess 11, the beam re-enters the crucible 2 on the bottom side of the recess 11 and moves down the crucible 2 to the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1 to be detected by an electrical detector 16 or by a user's eye. 20 viewing one of the light signals. This smaller recess 11 of Figure 7C produces an optical signal earlier than the notches 11 of Figures 7A, 7B and 7D, at least in part because the ink will still appear in the ink capsule when the smaller recess 11 becomes empty. The bag 6 (which passes through the optical signals of the 7A, 7B, and 7D drawings) and the ink cartridge 1 are integrally formed.

The embodiment of the ink cartridge 1 shown in Fig. 8 exemplifies two different aspects that can be employed together or separately. In the first aspect, Fig. 8 shows an example of a case in which ink is tilted so that the ink in the ink cartridge 1 is accumulated in one end of the ink cartridge 1 (opposite to the end formed by the ink bladder 6). . This causes the ink bladder 6 to become ink lower than the area on the opposite side of the ink cartridge 1. This opposite side is summarized as the area in which the ink is dispensed to the ink cartridge 1 of the printer 8. This positioning causes the ink level detection function to be triggered to display a low level of ink, even if a specific amount of ink remains in the ink cartridge 1. Therefore, before the ink cartridge 1 is completely emptied, the user is warned to prepare to replace the old magazine with a new one.

In the second of the two different aspects, Figure 8 shows the use of two separate optical ridges 2, 2' in one ink cartridge 1, and the 稜鏡2 on the right is the previously described, but on the left The 稜鏡 2' forms a second reflective portion 4' for at least one of the optical signals. The crucible 2 forms an ink bladder 6 having an inner wall 5 and has a reflecting portion 4 composed of a 45-degree slit on the side of the crucible 2 opposite to the ink bladder 6. In this embodiment of the crucible 2, please note that in addition to the aforementioned reflecting portion 4, there is also a reflecting portion 4" which is a 45-degree slit for reflecting the vertical beam from the LED 3 in the opposite direction of the other reflecting portion 4. In particular, the reflective portion 4" directs a beam of light away from the ink pocket 6 and toward the second ridge 2' in one direction (i.e., perpendicular to the original beam), which is positioned in this embodiment. One 稜鏡 2 left.

The second optical 稜鏡 2' located to the left of the first 稜鏡 2 is generally smaller than the first 稜鏡 2 and forms a second ink pocket 6 ′ with the first 稜鏡 2 . The second weir 2' can be positioned anywhere along the bottom 10 between the 匣 1 end and the 稜鏡 2 opposite the ink pocket 6. It is understood that if the second 稜鏡 2' is set closer to the dispenser 22, the lower the level of ink can be detected. The second 稜鏡 2' has at least a 45° slit forming a second reflective portion 4 ′ for receiving a light beam from the reflective portion 4 ′ of the first 稜鏡 2 . The reflective portion on the second 稜鏡 2 ′ 4' then reflects the beam so that the light moves directly down to the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1, where it can be detected. When the ink level in the second ink pocket 6' is high enough to block the beam from passing through When the two ink pockets 6' come to the second jaw 2', the second ink cartridge 2' does not generate an optical signal.

The aspect of Figure 8 relating to the second 稜鏡 2' is used to provide a system by which different ink levels in the ink cartridge 1 can be detected at different locations in each of the 稜鏡 2, 2'. Since the ink from the first ink pocket 6 is more depleted than from the second ink pocket 6', the first pupil 2 is generated and guided through the first ink pocket 6 out of the ink cartridge wall 5 A beam that is transmitted from the first 稜鏡 2 to the second 稜鏡 2 ′ and exits the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1 is detected more quickly. When the two 稜鏡2, 2' configurations are combined with the inclined positional state of the ink cartridge 1, as shown in Fig. 8, even if the light signal from the second 稜鏡2' is completely in the ink 匣1 Depletion was produced before. A visual light signal (for example, an optical signal from the first 稜鏡 2 to the outside of the ink 匣 wall 5) and an electrically detectable optical signal (for example, from the first 稜鏡 2 to the second 稜鏡 2) A non-limiting embodiment combining the two aspects is employed in a system of 'and down through the light signal of the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1'. Please understand that any configuration detected can be used in this embodiment, for example, all optical signals can be viewed by the user, or the optical signal from the first 稜鏡 2 can be electrically detected and from the second 稜鏡 2 'The light signal can be viewed by the user.

Further, as in Figs. 7A and 7E, Fig. 8 also has a state in which an optical signal is emitted from the side of the ink cartridge 1 and the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1. Thus, again, the two separate optical signals transmitted from different regions of the ink cartridge 1 can be registered by the electrical detector 16, the human eye 20, or a combination of the two.

Referring now to Figure 9, another embodiment of a 稜鏡 2" is shown as a "U" shape forming a frame, wherein the ends E1, E2 of the "U" are configured to be positioned at the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1 Up (not shown in this figure). The light source 3 generates a light beam that enters the 稜鏡 2" from the end E1 and moves up to the first reflection site 4 on the side of the "U", which is located at the "U" One of the first vertical turns of the shape 2" is a 45° slit. This first reflective portion 4 reflects the light 90° so that it moves linearly across the top side T of the inverted "U" shape 稜鏡 2" . Along the top side T of the 稜鏡 2", the light beam reaches a path 12 which forms a complete three-dimensional space or slit in the top side T of the "U". The light system that moves from the first reflecting portion 4 leaves the rib A section of the mirror 2" travels across the passage 12 to the top side T of the crucible 2" where it recovers on the other side of the passage 12. The top side T of the crucible 2" is thus divided into two separate sections S1, S2, One of the first segments S1, S2 is the portion before the passage 12 and the other of the segments S2, S1 is the portion after the passage 12. Please understand that the two segments S1 and S2 are discontinuous but are optically aligned. Thus, if the passage 12 is not substantially filled with ink, the beam can easily pass through the passage 12 and resume moving through the second section S2 of the top side T of the crucible 2".

In the second segment S2 of 稜鏡2", a notch 13 (forming another passage C) is provided at a distance separating one of the passages 12, unlike the passage 12, which does not form a division for the 稜鏡2" Complete three-dimensional space. Rather, the notch 13, C is a slit that extends approximately halfway through the top side T width and traverses the halfway of the light path through the top side T. Therefore, the notches 13, C divide a portion of the second segment S2 into two opposite ends S2E1, S2E2. Thus, approximately half of the beam that has been first moved through the path 12 (under ink) is capable of moving through the portion 14, S2, of the top side T directly adjacent the notch 13, C without interruption. The other half of the beam can pass through the second first end S2E1 and if the recess 13, C lacks ink, it passes through the notch 13, C. Please understand that the beam then passes through the second, second, opposite end S2E2 of the second segment. Therefore, the light beam acts as a half signal when the notches 13, C are blocked by the ink, and serves as a complete signal when the notches 13, C are not blocked by the ink.

After passing through the recesses 13, C and/or the portion 14, the light then encounters another reflective portion 4' formed by a 45° slit at the second vertical bend of the "U" shaped 稜鏡 2". The two reflecting portions 4' reflect the light by 90°, thereby guiding the light downwards and toward the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge in a third side of the "U" shaped 稜鏡 2". The beam exits the ink cartridge 1 into an optical signal that will be electrically detected 16 and/or viewed by the eye 20. In order to ensure that the second reflective portion 4' reflects light down to be detected, regardless of whether the ink level is at or above the reflective portion 4', the reflective portion 4' is designed to have a permanent air pocket around it ( Not shown). The formation of the air pocket can be achieved by providing an additional layer of material such as glass or polymeric material around the reflective portion 4'. This additional layer is positioned such that an air space exists between it and the second reflective portion. Between 4'. The air pocket ensures that the second shot 4' on the third side of the "U" always reflects the light down to be detected.

In Fig. 10, the "U" shape 稜鏡 2" showing Fig. 9 is positioned in an embodiment of the ink cartridge 1. The two-stage 稜鏡 2" has a detectable bottom portion 10 via the ink cartridge 1 and It produces one of the optical signals. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 10, the ink is positively blocked by the notches 13, C. Since the beam travels past the top side T, the portion of the beam of portion 14 of S2 is detected, and encountering the filled recess 13, the beam portion of C is blocked from further migration and is therefore not detected, which results in a weaker optical signal. Subject to detection.

The embodiment of Fig. 10 also includes a series of four optical turns 2 that are graduated in the height to the right of the "U" shape 稜鏡 2". These optical 稜鏡 2 are each on the top of each 稜鏡 2 There is a 45° reflection site 4, wherein each reflection site 4 is disposed at a different height from one of the bottoms 10 of the crucible 1. When the ink level in the ink bag 6 is lower than the respective reflection sites 2, four separate beams Transmitted across the ink pocket 6 to the right wall 5 of the ink cartridge 1. As previously described, when the ink in the ink pocket 6 is depleted to a level below the specific reflection site 4, the beams become active (i.e., not Blocked).

As shown in Fig. 10, the ink cartridge 1 is placed in a tilted position. In Figure 10, the tilt angle is approximately 10°, but please understand that this is not a limiting aspect. In this non-limiting embodiment, the four reflective pupils 4 of the separation pupil 2 produce an optical signal that is transmitted to the ink cartridge wall 5 and viewed by the user's eye 20 or electrically detected (via the detector 16), up to稜鏡2 produces the first detectable signal, the second highest 稜鏡2 produces the second detectable signal, and so on. At least in part due to the slanted position of 匣1, ink 匣1 is still approximately half full before the fourth 稜鏡2 produces a detectable signal.

The ink is substantially closer to emptying before the ink reaches a time to produce a fully detectable light signal by the "U" shape 稜鏡 2". Since the ink 匣 1 is in a slanted position, the "U" shape The passage 12 in the 稜鏡 2" becomes empty before the notches 13, C. As before, this results in a weaker signal, at least until the notches 13, C empty the ink. As with the embodiment of Figure 9, the second reflective portion 4' for receiving and reflecting a complete or partial beam of light can be surrounded by an air pocket so that the beam can be reflected even if the reflective portion 4' is below the ink level. When the ink is depleted to a level such that the beam passes through the notch 13, C, a complete signal is produced. Please understand that when this last signal is detected by an electronic detector 16, a message can be generated by the printer 8 to inform the user that the 匣1 is indeed close to emptying.

Figure 11 depicts yet another embodiment of a two-part 稜鏡 2''. In Fig. 11, the two-section type 稜鏡2"' includes a passage 12 (separating the top side T from the segments S1, S2) and a notch 13, C (partially separating the second segment S2 into opposite ends) S2E1, S2E2), but in an "L" shape instead of a U shape. The light is first guided through the end E1 of the 稜鏡 2''' on the short side of the "L", reflected off a first reflective portion 4 and via the via 12, the recess 13, C and directly to the notch 13, C The adjacent portion 14 moves along the top or long side T of the "L" and comes to the other end E2 of the "L". The other end E2 of 稜鏡2''' includes two additional reflective locations 4', 4", one of which reflects 90° of light toward the other 4". The other additional reflection sites 4" then reflect the light by 90[deg.] (i.e., 180[deg.] from the beam reflected from the first reflection site 4) to move back toward the reflection site 4.

As in the embodiments of Figures 9 and 10, the second and third reflective portions 4', 4" for receiving and reflecting the light beams are each separated by a distance from the additional reflective portions 4', 4" and surrounded by the edges. An additional layer of material of the mirror 2"" is provided by an air pocket (not shown) to ensure that the reflective portions 4', 4" reflect any beam they receive regardless of the ink level. The light is broadcast back Passing through the notches 13, C and the passage 12 toward the first reflecting portion 4. In one embodiment, the first reflecting portion 4 is configured to receive all of the reflected light and at the end E1 where the light first enters the 稜鏡 2"" The received light is reflected 90° (if the reflective portion 4 is higher than the ink level) toward the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1 . The letter has considered the space and energy factors to design this configuration of 稜鏡 2 ''', especially The LED 3 and the electrical detector 16 or viewing window 7 can be placed close to each other.

In another embodiment (shown in Figure 11), the 稜鏡 2"" (and in particular the reflective portion 4) can be configured such that the beam returning through the top side T is wide enough to cause a portion of the beam to be first reflected The portion 4 is reflected while the other portion of the beam is not reflected downward by the first reflecting portion 4. The unreflected portion passes directly through the wall 17 (i.e., when the ink does not block the portion of the wall 17) and comes out of the inner wall 5 of the ink cartridge to a viewing window 7 where it can be (for example, electricity) Sex) detection. Please understand that this configuration enables the ink level in 匣1 to be electrically detected at different areas around 匣1 and can be viewed by the human eye.

Thus, the embodiments of Figures 10 and 11 can, for example, be the same as Figures 7A, 7E and 8 with a light signal that reflects across the ink pocket 6 and that exits the wall 5 of the ink cartridge 1 (which is perpendicular to the original direction of the beam and parallel At the bottom 10) of the ink cartridge 1 and another light signal reflected outside the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1 (which is parallel to the original direction of the beam and perpendicular to the bottom 10 of the ink cartridge 1). Thus, again, the two separate optical signals can be registered at two different regions of the ink cartridge 1 by the electrical detector 16, the human eye 20, or a combination of the two.

Although a few embodiments have been described in detail, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the disclosed embodiments may be modified. Accordingly, the above description is considered as illustrative and not restrictive.

1‧‧‧Ink 匣

2‧‧‧(first)稜鏡

2’‧‧‧Second Optics

2"‧‧‧稜鏡

2'''‧‧‧Two-section 稜鏡

3‧‧‧Light source, LED (LED)

4‧‧‧(first) reflection site

4'‧‧‧second reflection site

4"‧‧‧Reflecting part of the first two

The inner wall of 5‧‧‧1, the right wall of the ink cartridge 1

6‧‧‧Ink bag

6’‧‧‧Second ink pouch

7‧‧‧View window

8‧‧‧Printer

9‧‧‧Vertical light string

10‧‧‧ bottom side of the inner space 21 of the ink cartridge

11,13‧‧ ‧ notch

11’‧‧‧ protruding

12, C‧‧‧ pathway

13, C‧‧‧ notch

14‧‧‧ Section

15‧‧‧Materials

16‧‧‧Electrical detector

17‧‧‧ vertical wall

18‧‧‧cut area

19‧‧‧Uncut rectangular area

20‧‧‧User's eyes

21‧‧‧ inner space

23‧‧‧Substantially hollow body

Wall of 24‧‧‧稜鏡2

A, B, C, D‧‧‧ visual display

E1, E2‧‧‧

R‧‧‧ recess

S1‧‧‧ first paragraph

S2‧‧‧ second paragraph

The first opposite end of the second paragraph of S2E1‧‧

S2E2‧‧‧ second opposite end of the second paragraph

Top side of T‧‧‧稜鏡

1 is a half schematic view showing an embodiment of an ink cartridge; FIG. 2A is a half schematic view showing an embodiment of an optical pickup; and FIG. 2B is a half schematic view showing another embodiment of an optical pickup; The figure depicts a half schematic view of an embodiment of an ink cartridge having ink therein; FIG. 4 depicts a semi-schematic cutaway view of a portion of an embodiment of a printer; and FIG. 5A depicts a half schematic representation of an embodiment of the cartridge Side view; FIG. 5B depicts a semi-schematic side view of another embodiment of FIG. 5C; FIG. 5C depicts a semi-schematic front view of the 第 of FIG. 5B; Figure 6 is a semi-schematic depiction of user-facing displays A, B, C, and D from various aspects according to an embodiment; Figures 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, and 7E depict an inkjet port. A half schematic view of five different embodiments of a wall; Figure 8 depicts a half schematic view of another embodiment of an ink cartridge comprising two turns; and Figure 9 depicts a half schematic representation of an embodiment of a "U" shape Fig. 10 is a semi-schematic perspective view of a "U" shape of Fig. 9 in an embodiment of the ink cartridge; Fig. 11 is a semi-schematic perspective view of an embodiment of an "L" shape.

1‧‧‧Ink 匣

2‧‧‧(first)稜鏡

3‧‧‧Light source, LED (LED)

The inner wall of 5‧‧‧1, the right wall of the ink cartridge 1

6‧‧‧Ink bag

10‧‧‧ bottom side of the inner space 21 of the ink cartridge

16‧‧‧Electrical detector

21‧‧‧ inner space

23‧‧‧Substantially hollow body

Claims (12)

An ink cartridge assembled to contain an ink, the ink cartridge comprising: a substantially hollow body including an inner space and a substantially continuous inner wall; an optical cymbal in the inner space of the body Disposed at a distance from the continuous inner wall; and an ink pocket defined by a wall of the optical cartridge and a continuous inner wall of the ink cartridge, the optical cartridge comprising: at least one reflection a portion that is formed at an angle that is configured to reflect light from a light source that passes through the optical pupil at a predetermined height relative to a bottom of the hollow body portion and at the predetermined Height is removed from the optical crucible, and the crucible wall is positioned perpendicular to a bottom of the body; wherein the ink is in the ink pocket at a level lower than at least a portion of the at least one reflective portion Existing, the ink does not block light reflected by at least a portion of the at least one reflective portion from passing through the sidewall and passing through the ink pocket at the predetermined height, such that the reflected light can be externally detected by the electronic component Got The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the crucible comprises a plurality of separate reflective portions, each of the separated reflective portions being disposed at a different predetermined height relative to the optical crucible of the bottom, wherein the ink The ink in the pouch does not block the light reflection separated at one of the predetermined heights, and each of the separated reflection portions is generated at the corresponding predetermined height. Reflecting the separated light passing through the optical capsule and passing through the ink pocket, the corresponding predetermined height corresponding to the separated reflective portion that produces the separated light reflection, and wherein the separated light is located at the corresponding predetermined height The reflection system can be detected externally by the electronic component as a separate optical signal. The ink cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of separate reflective portions assembled to reflect light at the predetermined height, wherein if the ink in the ink pocket is not blocked at the predetermined height, the ink pocket is passed through the ink pocket. a separate light reflection, wherein each of the separated reflection portions is located at a different lateral position from the other separate light reflections traveling at the predetermined height, and the optical aperture is passed through the ink capsule at the predetermined height The separated light of the bag is reflected, and wherein the separated light reflections are detectable externally by the electronic component as separate optical signals. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the body is positioned such that when at least a portion of the ink is still present in the body, the ink does not block the at least one light reflection from crossing the ink at the predetermined height Pouch. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the continuous inner wall includes at least one additional reflective portion on a portion thereof, the additional reflective portion i) further defining the ink pocket, and ii) being positioned at the predetermined Height and iii) configured to receive and reflect at least one reflection of the optical pupil if the ink in the ink pocket does not block light reflected by the at least one reflective portion from passing through the ink pocket at the predetermined height The light reflected from the part. The ink cartridge of claim 1, further comprising: a second reflection portion of the optical aperture, which is positioned at a second predetermined height different from the predetermined height; a third reflection of the optical aperture a portion configured to receive light reflected from the second reflective portion; and a recess formed in the sidewall facing the ink pocket, the recess being completely spanned from the third An area of the ridge of the light path extending to the bottom of the hollow body portion is cut out, thereby forming a recess in the optical raft, the recess increasing a volume of the ink pocket; wherein the recess In the absence of ink, the light travels through the light path from the third reflective portion through the recess and away from the bottom. The ink cartridge of claim 1, further comprising a notch formed in a wall opposite to the wall facing the ink bag, the notch being completely spanned from the hollow An area of the ridge extending from the bottom of the body to the light path of the at least one reflective portion is cut out, thereby forming a recess in the optical raft, the recess increasing the volume of the inner space, wherein if the ink is present In the recess, light is blocked from entering the crucible. The ink cartridge of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the crucible comprises two discontinuous but optically aligned segments and a passage disposed between the two segments, and wherein The passage lacks ink, and the light travels through the path from the first segment of the two segments and into one of the second segments of the two segments. The ink cartridge of claim 8 wherein the optical cartridge further comprises a recess formed in a region of the weir that partially spans the optical path in the second segment such that the recess The second segment is partially divided into two opposite end regions, wherein the recess forms another ink path, and wherein the light travels in a first relative direction from the first segment through the path and into the second segment After the light path in the end zone, if the other path lacks ink, a portion of the light travels through the other ink path through the first opposite end region and into a second relative of the second segment In the end zone. The ink cartridge of claim 9, wherein the at least one reflective portion is configured to guide the light through the passage and the other passage, and wherein the crucible further comprises at least two additional reflective portions, the at least a first one of the two additional reflective portions is configured to i) receive the light after the light passes through the path and the other path, and ii) transmit the light to a second one of the at least two additional reflective portions And the second one of the at least two additional reflective portions is configured to transmit the light back through the other path and the path to the at least one reflective portion, the light being combined to cause i) to be reflected back to the light a portion contacting the at least one reflective portion and being directed away from the bottom of the hollow body, and ii) another portion of the light that is reflected back does not contact the at least one reflective portion and travels directly away from the ink pocket The crucible wall thus splits the light to form two electronically detectable signals emitted from separate portions of the ink cartridge. The ink cartridge of any one of claims 1 to 7 further comprising a second optical cymbal positioned to face the The wall of the ink bag is separated from the wall by a distance, the second optical frame includes: a first segment having a first reflection portion; a second segment, the first segment Discontinuously and optically aligned with the first segment, the second segment having a plurality of second reflective portions configured to receive light reflected from the first reflective portion and direct the light away from the bottom of the hollow body; And a path disposed between the first and second segments, wherein if the via lacks ink, the light travels on the optical path from the first segment to the second segment. The ink cartridge of claim 1, wherein the optical cartridge comprises two reflective portions, one at the predetermined height and the other at a second predetermined height, and wherein the ink cartridge further comprises an additional optical aperture Adjacent to the optical crucible to define a second ink pocket between the optical aperture and the additional optical aperture, the additional optical aperture comprising at least one reflective location positioned at the The second predetermined height of the other of the two reflective portions of the optical raft is assembled such that if the ink in the second ink pocket does not block a light reflection through the second ink pocket, the two reflections are received and reflected The light reflected by the other of the locations.